distortion with multiple voices

Hello All.  I am using 8.5.3 and perhaps this gets cleared up using X1d.   When I layer vocal tracks (let's say 4 of them) and solo them together (all four at once) - they sound just great.  BUT when I play all the tracks - with other other tracks going to other outputs (I mix out of the box) - all of a sudden there is distortion in the vocal tracks.
Any ideas?   I suspect it may be when I have two of my soft synths going with them.
I am wondering if it is a memory issue (perhaps memory not configured or operating properly.
If someone had this problem with 8.5.3 and it went away with X1 it would be a major impetus for me to get it.
THANKS,
AB

John


Turn the volume down either at the synth or the track or the buss. Or all the above.

Thanks John.  I am still uncertain though why a sound going to outputs 1+2 and a sound going to outputs 3+4 to my 16 channel Lynx Aurora would not distort when played individually, but distort when played together - since there apparently is no summing output for the 4 channels?
Nevertheless, I will keep on plugging away at your suggestion.
 

John


If you can hear them there has to be a summing output. Unless you are listening to 8.1 sound.

John - thanks very much for helping me out.  It turns out it is something I do not quite understand.  I am fine recording with my Lynx Aurora set at +4 going into the computer and Sonar.  BUT on playback - if I set the Aurora at -10 - then all is well - I end up with the headroom on my mixing board to be just fine.  So it appears it has something to do with the outputs of my Lynx Aurora with the inputs on my Allen and Heath GS3000.   Frankly, I am surprised that the Mixing Board does not handle the +4 signal that well - but c'est la vie.  I really do not care - as I then mix into Wavelab on another computer and that level will be what matters in the long run.
 
THANKS,
AB

Thanks John.  The A&H has recessed buttons on the back to switch from -10 to +4.  I thought I had it set to +4, but I better double check.  That could be it.  You are a smart guy (and kind too!).  AB
 
John


It doesn't matter what the A&H uses for input as long as it sounds good to you. I'll bet though it does have a way of switching the input volume it expects.